Focus: A Film Review (1950-1951)

181 Another interesting speculation derives from the opening of the film where Philip is talking to a psychiatrist. He reels off a string of modern cliches : “I’m all mixed up.” “I feel all alone.” “They don’t understand me.” One has an impression of the psychiatrist as a father confessor and it is clear that the function of the priest as physician of the soul has now, in an unchristian civilisation, been largely taken over by the laypractitioner. A curious secondary problem : is Philip a Catholic ? He instinctively makes the sign of the Cross when being married in Italy but his New York home and his subsequent attitude give no further corroboration. A score of questions are posed by the war scenes in Italy. The casual, otherworldly, air of the soldiers as they ply their soldierly profession, compared with their very down-to-earth eagerness to fraternise with the local girls. The family spirit underlined by the almost ritual passing of wine around the circle to celebrate the acceptance of Philip as a friend in the family. The permission sought and granted for Teresa to “walk out” with Philip but ten-vearold little brother is sent to accompany them as chaperon ! Pier Angeli who plays the role of Teresa is, at present, an unspoiled, self-confident, exceptionally photogenic seventeeu-year-old child who looks less than her age. How long she will be able to withstand the baleful materialism of the publicity machine remains to be seen. The personality that comes so forcefully across the screen may be strong enough to resist the corrosive influence. Following upon her delightful acting in Doniani e troppo tardi, her work in Teresa suggests that here we have the makings of a first-class screen actress. John Ericson, who plays Philip, is a likeable and competent youngster, but he is quite outclassed by the girl. Patricia Collinge gives a strong study of the possessive mother, and an unusually thoughtful and successful piece of underplaying is Richard Bishop’s part as the ineffectual, weakling father of Philip. This is a film to see, to enjoy, to think about and then to see again. Film Strips on the Mass THE SACRED ACTIONS 74 Frames Pictures by John Drummond Young from the book “The Sacred Actions”, by Father Hugh McEvoy, S.J. Price £1 Is. Od. THE MASS FOR LITTLE CHILDREN 20 Frames. Colour By S. N. D. Price 7s. 6d. THE CATHOLIC FILM INSTITUTE 157 Victoria Street London, S.W.l FOCUS FILM COURSE A Series of Lectures to be delivered at MORE HOUSE, 53 Cromwell Road, London, S.W.7 under the supervision of ANDREW BUCHANAN at 3 o'clock on April 7th and alternate Saturdays until July 14th FEES: Single Lecture 1 / Syllabus from Catholic Film Institute, 157 Victoria Street, London, S.W.l V.